Met Gala 2026: Beyoncé Returns After 10 Years as Co-Chair With Nicole Kidman

Met Gala 2026 has arrived, and this year’s event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is shaping up to be one of the most memorable in recent history. Beyoncé is returning to the gala for the first time since 2016, stepping into the role of co-chair alongside Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Anna Wintour. With the theme “Costume Art” and a dress code that declares “Fashion Is Art,” the first Monday in May promises a red carpet unlike anything we have seen in years.

Met Gala 2026 Theme: Costume Art and the Fashion Is Art Dress Code

The Costume Institute’s 2026 exhibition is titled “Costume Art,” a sweeping exploration of the intersection between haute couture and the fine arts. The exhibition examines how designers from Charles James to Alexander McQueen have elevated garment construction to the level of sculpture, painting, and architecture. The accompanying dress code — “Fashion Is Art” — invites guests to interpret the relationship between their wardrobe and the art world in the most literal, ambitious terms possible.

For guests and designers, the dress code is both liberating and daunting. Past Met Gala themes have occasionally produced safe, understated red carpet moments, but “Fashion Is Art” all but demands spectacle. Industry insiders expect to see garments that double as installations, with sculptural silhouettes, hand-painted fabrics, and wearable mixed-media pieces dominating the steps of the Met.

The Co-Chairs: Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams

This year’s co-chair lineup is a study in cultural power. Beyoncé, who last attended the Met Gala in 2016 wearing a custom latex Givenchy Haute Couture gown, returns to the event in a leadership role that signals her enduring influence on both music and fashion. Her decade-long absence from the gala had become one of the event’s most discussed mysteries, and her return as co-chair has generated enormous anticipation across the fashion and entertainment worlds.

Nicole Kidman, a longtime fixture of the Met Gala red carpet and a frequent collaborator with high-fashion houses including Balenciaga and Chanel, brings her own brand of understated Hollywood glamour to the co-chair roster. Venus Williams, whose V Starr fashion label and personal style have made her one of the most fashion-forward athletes in history, rounds out a trio that spans entertainment, film, and sport. Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, continues her role as the gala’s perennial co-chair and chief architect.

Host Committee and Honorary Chairs

The host committee this year is co-chaired by Zoe Kravitz and Anthony Vaccarello, the creative director of Saint Laurent. Kravitz, who recently made headlines for her engagement to Harry Styles, has become one of fashion’s most closely watched figures, and her pairing with Vaccarello — whose work at Saint Laurent has redefined modern minimalist glamour — makes them a natural fit to steer the evening’s creative vision.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez serve as this year’s honorary chairs, a selection that underscores the gala’s continued expansion beyond the traditional worlds of fashion and entertainment. The couple’s presence highlights the growing influence of the tech and business sectors on the luxury fashion ecosystem, a trend that has accelerated considerably in recent years.

How to Watch the Met Gala 2026 Red Carpet

For those not among the roughly 450 guests who receive a coveted invitation each year, the Met Gala red carpet will be livestreamed starting at 6:00 PM ET on Vogue’s digital platforms, including Vogue.com and the magazine’s official social media channels. The livestream typically features real-time commentary, designer identification, and backstage glimpses that are unavailable anywhere else. Coverage is also expected across major entertainment outlets and social media.

Red carpet hosting duties fall to a trio of media personalities who have become synonymous with Met Gala coverage: Emma Chamberlain, Cara Delevingne, and Ashley Graham. Chamberlain’s viral interviews in previous years have become a highlight of the livestream in their own right, and her return alongside Delevingne and Graham ensures the broadcast will be both informative and wildly entertaining.

Confirmed Attendees and Notable Absences

The confirmed guest list reads like a cross-section of contemporary pop culture at its absolute peak. Sabrina Carpenter, who is in the middle of a career-defining year, is among the most anticipated arrivals. Doja Cat, Angela Bassett, LISA, A’ja Wilson, Teyana Taylor, and Sam Smith round out a group that spans music, film, sport, and fashion. The breadth of the guest list reflects the Met Gala’s evolution from a purely fashion-world event into a broader cultural gathering that touches every corner of the entertainment landscape.

The most notable absence this year is Zendaya, who has been a Met Gala regular and a perennial “best dressed” contender since her first appearance in 2018. While no official explanation has been given for her absence, sources close to the actress cite scheduling conflicts with an ongoing production. Her fans, many of whom consider her annual Met Gala looks to be cultural events in their own right, have expressed widespread disappointment across social media platforms.

Beyoncé’s Met Gala Return: Why It Matters

Beyoncé’s last Met Gala appearance was in 2016 for the “Manus x Machina” theme, where she arrived solo in a beaded, body-hugging Givenchy creation that remains one of the most discussed looks in the event’s modern history. Her absence over the following decade coincided with some of the most productive and culturally significant phases of her career, including the releases of Lemonade, Renaissance, and Cowboy Carter.

Her return as co-chair — rather than simply as a guest — elevates her involvement beyond the red carpet. As co-chair, Beyoncé will have played a direct role in shaping the evening’s guest list, seating arrangements, and overall creative direction, according to The New York Times. It is a distinction that places her among a select group of cultural figures who have helped define what the Met Gala means in any given year. For a deeper look at how the event works behind the scenes, see our explainer on how the Met Gala actually works.